Logging bummer



May 16, 1933.

J. KUcHAR 1,909,689

LOGGING BUMMER v Filed NOV. 7. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 16, 1.933. 1KUCHAR 1,909,689

LOGGING BUMMER Filed Nov. '7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 16, 1933. .1KUCHAR LOGGING BUMMER Filed Nov. 7, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 16, 1933.J. KUCHAR v LoGGING BUMMER Filed Nov. 7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedMay 16,- 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH XUCHAR, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ATHEY TRUSS WHEEL CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS meente Bumm-Ja Application med November 7, 1981.Serial No. 578,574.

My invention is concerned with the provision of improvements in logginbummers which are adapted to gather, an to receive and hold one end of,a log or plurallty of logs, to be dragged to a deslred location.

Among its objects, the invention contemplates various improvements m theconstruction, arrangement, operation and cooperation of those elementsof the bummer whlch act to load and serve to support the logs.

The bummer herein described and subsequently claimed is characterized bythe fact that it comprises a log supporting bunk movable on two axes, i.e. th@ bunk is movable on a horizontal axis to assume its load andmovable on a vertical axis to facilitate direction changes in the travelof the bummer.

Other objects, advantages and capabllitles of the invention will appearfrom the f ollowing description of preferred embodlments thereof takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is asectional view through a bummer embodying my invention, the same beinghitched to a tractor;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view;

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view, partly 1n section, taken on the line 4-4of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational sectional view of a modified form of bummerembodymg the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the bummer preferablycomprises a pair o track laying wheels 10 which suitably may be of thetype described and claimed in Patent No. 1,435,788 issued November 14,1922 to I. H. Athey. Each wheel comprises a beam 11 which receives astud axle 12 which projects outwardly `from a web 13. lThe webs 13"idepend downwardly from a transverse frame member 14 which suitably may`be a hollow beam. To the frame member 14 are secured horizontal framemembers aor channels 15 which converge forwardly and give into parallelforward ends which are secured together and to a suitable draw bar 16.The draw bar 16 may be resiliently connected to the tractor 17 in anysuitable way.

vided with an outer face 23 which is adapted to engage the flat end faceof a bunk 24,

upon which the forward ends of the logs are adapted to rest. The bunk 24is provided with a pivot 25 which extends into the bridge member 20 andpermits the bunk to swivel in a horizontal plane when it is in itselevated or loaded position. The wedges 26 may be `inserted in slotsprovided by brackets 27 mounted on the bunk bridge member 20 to preventsuch swiveling when desired, for example during loading.

Resilient means are provided which tend to maintain the bunk in normaltransverse posltion. The bridge member 20` is preferably hollow and theresilient means may be located therein. As shown in Fig. 4, alinger 28is mounted in the pivot 25 so that each end projects into the hollowhousing 20. To these projecting ends are pivotally secured rods 29 whichextend into tubular housings 30 which are pivotally mounted to the endwalls of the bridge member 20. The outer f end of each housing 30 isclosed by a threaded collar 31 through which passes the rod 29 and asleeve 32 mounted thereon. The sleeve 32 abuts upon a washer 33 whichnormally rests upon the inner side of the collar 31, being forcedthereagainst by a compresi sion spring 34.` The other end of the spring34 abuts upon a washer 35 which rests on an annular rib 36 welded `or'otherwise mounted upon the housing adjacent its end remote from thecollar 31. On the adjacent end of the rod 29 is mounted a sleeve 37which is held in position by means of a washer and nut.

When the bunk is displaced or rotated out of alignment with the bridgemember 20, the

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rods 29 are either withdrawn somewhat from the housing 30 or are pushedfurther into the housings. In the first case, the sleeve 37 acts on thewasher 35 to compress the spring 34 to a greater extent than it isnormally compressed. lin the latter case, the sleeves 32 acting on thewashers 33 have a similar effect. lt should be understood that thesprings 34 are in an initial state of compression so that substantialforce is necessary to deflect the bunk from its normal position.

At each end the bridge member 2O is pivotally connected to a forwardlyextending link 38, the forward ends of which are interconnectedby atransverse bar 39. The transverse bar 39 carries a pair of rolls 40located immediately on the inner sides of the links 33. rlhe bar 39 alsocarries a pair of rolls 41 located immediately within the inner sides ofthe rolls 40.

The webs 13 carry forward extensions 42 to which are ivotally connectedthe lower bifurcated en, s of a boom 43. rllhe boom 43 may suitably befabricated from a pair of ll-beams which converge upwardly as shown inFig. 3 and rovide an upwardly extending member w ich supports a sheave44 at its upper end. A plate 45 is mounted upon v the upper bifurcatedportions of the boom 43 so as to receive the impact of the log or logsas shown in lzig. 1, which impact results 1n a displacement of the boom,as will hereinafter be further explained. The rolls 4() carried by thebar 39 are adapted to ride upon the forward faces of the bifurcatedelements of the boom 43, which elements have substantialy parallelportions to accommodate said ro s.

Supplemental longitudinal frame members 46 are secured to the transverseframe member 14 and extend forwardly. rlhe frame members46 and 15 aretied together by means of plates 47 and 48 secured to their under andupper sides respectively. The upper plate 4.8 projects laterally infront of the wheels 10, the projectin portions being provided with anarcuate ront face. 'lhe forward edge of the plate 48 is reinforced by anangle iron 49 which is curved to conform to the shape of the plate 48,to which it is secured in any suitable way, for example by means ofrivets. The angle iron 49 and the plate 48 provide a bumper whichdeflects saplings and small trees laterally and prevents them from beingbent down over the tractor by the wheels 10, with possible seriousresults to the tractor driver.

The rolls 41 are adapted to ride upon the upper surfaces ,of the framemembers 46. The rolls 40 are in cam-like engagement with the forwardfaces of the l-beams which constitute the bifurcated legs of the boom43. It will readily be understood that when the boom 43 is movedforwardly from the position shown in full lines in ig. 1 to the posi-Lmlg@ tion shown in dotted lines, the rolls 40 ride upon the legs of theboom 43 and the rolls 41 ride upon the frame members 46.

0n the inner sides of the rolls 41 the` bar 39 is connected to therearward ends of telescopic casings 50, the forward ends of which arerigidly mounted upon the plate 48. The telescopic casings 50 containcompression springs 51 which normally tend to force the boom 43 into itsrearward or elevated position and the bunk 24 into its lowest pos1tion,as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1. The' rearward movement of theboom 43 is limited by a folding linkage 52 which connects the boom 43with a bracket 53 carried at the forward end of the chassis adjacent thedraw bar 16.

rlihe linkage 52 ma have a resilient connection with the brac et 53, aspring 54 being provided for that purpose. The spring 51 provides theforward stop for the boom 43, since it opposes such forward movementwhen the sprin is compressed solid. The bracket 53 provi es support fora roll 55 which is located adjacent windlass 56 mounted on the tractor17 and adapted to be operated by the tractor engine. A cable 57 passesover the sheave 44, the roll 55 being adapted to be wound in or paid outby the windlass 56.

rllhe operation of the bummer is as follows. 'lhe tractor and bummer arebrought to a suitable location adjacent the log or logs, exemplilied bthe sin le log 58 so that the log lies practica ly straig t behind andpreferably in alignment with the bummer. rlhe cable 57 is paid out andis hitched around one end of the log 58 or a plurality of such logs. Theboom 43 is in its highest position, this being the normal position owinto the action of the springs 51. The wind ass 56 is then operated todraw in the line 57 so that the log or logs are dragged toward thebummer. ``When the log or logs approach the bummer their forward endsare elevated by the cable 57 so as to clear the bunk 24 which is in itslow position. The employment of track laying wheels keeps the wheelsupports of the bummer low so that there is no danger of the logs cominginto engagement therewith.

When the drawing in of the cable 57 proceeds to a certain point, thelog-or logs may contact with the boom 43 or the plate 45 mountedthereontwith the result that further drawing in of the cable 57 pullsthe boom 43 forwardly against the action of the springs 51. This forwardmovement of the boom causes the elevation of the bunk 24 so that thesame engages the log or logs adjacent their forward ends and the weightthereof is transferred from the cable 57 to the bunk 24.

After the load is then taken by the bunk 24, the cable 57 merely actsVas a tie to secure the logs to the bummer. When thus loaded the tractormay be started and the log or logs transported to any desired pointtrailing on their rearward ends. Since a considerable Elib@ lili@ partof the weight of the logs is supported on the bunk 24, the weight of thelogs upon their trailing ends is substantially reduced and thefrictional resistance opposed by this trailing is reduced to areasonable extent. When the logs are loaded, the wedges 26 may beremoved from their sockets so that the bunk 24 may swivel about itsvertical axis 25 so as to facilitate relative movement between the logsand the bummer when corners are turned.

The logs may easily be unloaded from the bummer. All that is necessaryis to loosen the hitch of the cable 57 around the log or logs and thenmove the bummer forwardly. During the removal of the logs the boom 43elevates and the bunk 24 moves downwardly, this action being assisted bythe springs 5l.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the bunk 24 is pivota-llymounted within Y the transverse frame member or beam 14 and is notadapted to swivel on alhorizontal axis. The boom 43 is pivotally mountedon the chassis, as in the embodiment previously described. Iii thismodification the bar 39 may be located between the bifurcated limbs ofthe boom 43 and its rolls 40 may suit-ably engage the inner side of therear web, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. l

It will be noted from Fig. 5 that the position of the sheave 44 issubstantially higher when the boom is in its erect position than is thecase Awhen the boom is in its lower position. This difference in' heightis suiicient to insure vthe elevation of the log end above the bunlf24and its deposition on the bunk when the boom moves forwardly.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with thespecific details of preferred embodiments thereof, it must be understoodthat such embodiments are understood not to be limitable to theinvention eX- cept so far as set forth in the accompanying claims. y

I claim:

1. A logging bummer comprising a chassis franie, a boom pivotallymounted thereon, means for guiding a cable at an elevated point on saidboom, land a bunk mounted on said frame adapted to swivel relative tothe frame in a fixed horizontal plane.

2. A logging bummer comprising a chassis frame, a boom pivotallymountedthereon, means for guiding a cablle at anelevated point on said boom,and a bunk mounted on said frame for movement relative to the frame on ahorizontal axis/and for movement relative to the frame on an axis atright angles to lsaid horizontal axis irrespective of the positioiio'fthe bunk in relation to its horizontal axis.

3. A logging bummer comprising a. chassis frame, a boom pivotallvmounted thereon, means for guiding a cable at an elevated point on saidboom, a bunk mounted on said frame adapted to swivel in a fixedhorizontal plane, and means to lock said bunk fr ed on said vehicleadapted to swivel said bunk about its horizontal axis.

5. In combination, a tractor, a trailer, said trailer comprising a bunkadapted to swivel relative tothe trailer about a horizontal axis` andrelative to the trailer about an axis at right angles thereto, a boompivotally mounted on the trailer, a line cooperating with said boom andadapted to be drawn in by the tractor, said line being adapted to behitched to a log, so that same is drawn against the boom to swing theboom on its pivot, and means operated by said boom to elevate the bunkabout its horizontal axis to engage the log.

6. A logging bummer comprising a vehicle, a bunk mounted thereon toswivel relative to the vehicle about a vertical axis, a boom pivotallymounted upon said vehicle adapted to swivel about a transverse axis, aline adapted to pass over the outer end of the boom and adapted to haul`logs and elevate the ends thereof, a plate on said boom adapted toreceive the impact of the logs so as to deiect the boom forwardly, saidboom being arranged so that said deiection causes the logs to be deosited on the bunk. 4 p

A logging bummer comprising a chassis frame, a boom pivotally/,mountedthereon for movement -in a longitudinal vertical plane, means forguiding a cable at an Aelevated point on said boom, a bunk mounted onsaid frame, behind said boom, adapted to swivel in a fixed horizontalplane, and means to lock said bunk against swiveling, the boom and bunkbeing located so that logs drawn in by said cable force the boomforwardly until they rest upon the bunk.

8. A logging bummer comprising a chassis frame, a boom pivotally mountedthereon, means for guiding a cable at an elevated point on said boom, abunkgmounted on said frame for movement on a horizontal axis and formovement on an axis at right angles to said horizontal axis, and meansfor locking the bunk to prevent the latter movement.

9. A logging bummer comprising a chassis frame, a boom pivotally mountedthereon to swing in a longitudinal vertical plane, means for guiding acable at anelevated point on said boom, a bunk adapted to swing about ahorizontal axis, and means having a sliding engagement with the boomfonelevating the bunk when the boom moves forwardly.

10. A logging bummer comprising a chassis frame, a boom pivotallymounted thereon to swing in a'longitudinal vertical plane, means forguiding a cable at an elevated point on said boom, a bunk adapted toswing about a horizontal axis, a link pivotally connected to said bunk,means on said chassis frame adapted to guide the forward end of saidlink, and means on said link having a sliding engagement with the boom,whereby the bunk is elevated by the forward movement of the boom.

11. A logging bummer comprising a chassis frame, a boom pivotallymounted thereon to swing baekwardly and forwardly, a compression springon the forward side of the boom tendingto force same rearwardly andabsorb shock applied thereto, means for guiding a cable at an elevatedpoint on said boom, and a bunk mounted on said frame adapted to swivelrelative to the frame in a fixed horizontal plane.

l2. A. logging bummer comprising a chassis frame, a boom pivotallymounted thereon to swing baekwardly and forwardly, a compression springon the forward side of the boom tending to force same rearwardly andabsorb shocks applied thereto, means for guiding a cable at an elevatedpoint on said boom, a bunk mounted on said frame for movement on ahorizontal axis and for movement on an axis at right angles to saidhorizontal axis, and means directly connecting said spring and said bunkwhereby the spring tends to move the bunk to its lowermost position.

lin witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day ofNovember, 1931.

JOSEPH KUCHAR.

